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'Christ in You...'
by Dale Krebbs
Trials of our life and trials of our faith are difficult to endure. Regardless of the origin or the intensity. Actually the trials of our life are, or become, trials of our faith. How can you endure your trials, without them destroying or injuring your faith?
There are wonderful and comforting words from the Apostle Paul regarding this issue. He suffered many trials during his service to Christ. If anyone would know how to respond to suffering a trial, it would be him.
His strategy for dealing with the trials that came his way can be a pattern for us, regardless of the nature of our troubles. Although he suffered many afflictions, many of which he describes in detail, such as stoning, beatings, and difficulties what we will not know is this life, he was able to endure them without loosing his trust and faith in Jesus Christ. I have often wondered how he was able to do it.
Paul did not always receive healing of his afflictions, deliverance from persecutions from many different sources and circumstances. He apparently had poor eyesight, possibly caused by his numerous beatings. He ask Christ to remove his affliction. However, Jesus declined. And here is the reason why:
“But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and [a]show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
We can see that Paul considered Jesus’ answer to his request as a blessing for greater service and effectiveness in his calling. He knew that with this promise, he could endure and even make his ministry more effective. Jesus told him how to turn an affliction into a blessing, to turn something that Paul as petitioned Jesus to do for him three times. Apparently, the third time Jesus told him that His grace was made perfect in his weakness
This promise from Jesus applies also to you and me…
“For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.” (1 Corinthians 10:12-14).
When you are facing something that you feel you cannot endure and keep you trust and faith in Jesus Christ, claim His promise. And cling to the promise of the Apostle Paul that you will be able to endure it, because Jesus will make a "way of escape" that will enable you to endure it.
Whatever you may encounter in life difficulties, Jesus will provide a “way of escape if you will trust Him. It will not something you cannot endure.
He will make a "way of escape.
That’s a promise from the Apostle Paul.
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